Psychology Commons^™

Analyzing The Efficacy Of The Nih Emotion Toolbox When Predicting Depression And Anxiety In Individuals With Down Syndrome (Ds), Lauren Hinton, Ruth Brown-Ennis Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Medical Cannabis Use In Pain, Sleep, And Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults, Madison H. Maynard

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Older adults represent the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users, and they endorse cannabis use for a variety of reasons including modulation of chronic pain, mental health symptoms, and sleep concerns. Despite escalating patterns of use, current evidence leaves questions of efficacy unanswered among these groups of users. Goals of the present study were to examine the role of medicinal cannabis within subjects at the daily level on the interrelated symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep, and pain. A final sample of 106 medical cannabis users were recruited nationwide, ranging from 55 to 74 years of age (66.67% female, 82.86% white). …

Sympathetic-Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder, Ashley Darling

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood and/or anhedonia that causes significant functional impairment in daily life. MDD affects nearly 15% of adults in their lifetime, and since 2019, prevalence estimates have increased up to ~30% in young adults (18-25 years old). In addition to its debilitating effects on daily functioning, epidemiological studies link MDD to ~3 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed by accelerated CVD progression and mortality. Although the mechanisms contributing to MDD-CVD comorbidity are unclear, there is evidence of stress system dysfunction in adults with MDD.

Accordingly, the aim …

Lateralization Of Motor Behavior As A Measure Of Cognitive Functioning And Resting-State Electrocortical Activity, Alina Dillahunt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background. Research has shown that the laterality between hands in self-report and motor measures maps onto hemispheric lateralization and this has important implications for psychopathology (e.g., depression) and cognition. The present study evaluates the relationship between performance on finger-tapping tasks (FTT), alpha power during resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), handedness, and relevant psychological outcomes. Methods. A sample of 48 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 completed online assessments including a modified FTT paradigm, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, and a common depression measure. A subset of 20 participants completed assessments of motor and executive functioning including a self-report executive functioning measure, …

Neuroticism And Rumination As Mechanisms By Which Adverse Childhood Experiences Increase Vulnerability To Depression In College Students, Christopher Popielarz

West Chester University Master’s Theses

There is a high prevalence of depression among college students, and the consequences of untreated depression negatively impact those students’ academic and life outcomes. The following study analyzes the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of depression in college years as potentially mediated by neuroticism and rumination factors. The purpose of this research is to fill a gap in the current literature to determine whether neuroticism and rumination act together as mechanisms in conferring depression in college students following ACEs. Data from four questionnaires administered to undergraduate students at West Chester University (n = 127, 55.5% female, …

Parental Psychological Control And Adolescents' Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety: Investigating The Mediating Role Of Emotional Regulation And The Moderating Role Of Peer Social Support, Shiyuan Chen

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Youth mental health is crucial for their overall well-being, and its absence can have detrimental consequences. Parenting behaviors play a significant role in promoting or hindering youth's healthy psychosocial development. In particular, parental psychological control has been linked to increased levels of internalizing and externalizing problems in youth, highlighting the need for research in this area to inform effective prevention and intervention. Guided by theories and previous research, the current study aims to replicate the associations between parental psychological control and adolescents' depression and anxiety symptoms while exploring emotional regulation difficulties as a mediator and social support from classmates and …

Development Of A Novel Measure To Assess For Alcohol Misuse In Older Adults: The Alcohol Misuse Scale For Older Adults (Amsoa), Nathan Jensen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Alcohol is the most regularly used intoxicating substance in most geographic locations. Alcohol use in the United States specifically is well over global averages. While alcohol misuse is generally considered to be understood as a problem for younger adults, it is often unrecognized and understudied older adult populations. Currently, there is an absence of a comprehensive tool measuring for developmentally salient behaviors, symptoms, and features of alcohol misuse in older adulthood, which blocks researchers’ ability to measure alcohol misuse well. The purpose of this study is to develop a psychometrically valid and reliable assessment of alcohol misuse for older adult …

Living With Depression In The Family: A Narrative Inquiry Methodology For Seeking Meaning Through Stories, Amanda Cole, Vivien Kemp, Julie Ann Pooley, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Depression is a cause of disability globally and affects not only the person living with the condition, but the whole family. How people construct meaning to ‘live well’ and make sense of the reality of living with a person diagnosed with depression were explored through narrative inquiry and stories. The purpose of this article is to justify the use of narrative inquiry methodology to explore how people make meaning and find ways to live well and live with a family member who lives with depression. An interpretivist epistemological perspective, with the ontological principles of critical realism, and a social constructionist …

The Effectiveness Of Group Treatments For Veterans: A Meta-Analysis, Janine S. Hazel

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Transitioning into civilian life after serving in the military can be a huge adjustment for many military members. The military lifestyle and culture are unique structures that become a large part of military members’ identity and belief systems. For decades, veterans have struggled with several mental health issues and other poor outcomes at higher rates than non-military individuals (i.e., depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, homelessness, financial distress). Often, these poor outcomes can leave veterans feeling alone and misunderstood by their non-military community—impacting their ability to reintegrate into civilian life successfully. Social isolation and a lack of felt interconnectedness negatively affect veterans’ …

Increasing Help-Seeking Among People With Depression: An Empirical Assessment Of A Static And Trending Norms Approach, Christopher Falco

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The current research examined whether making static and trending norms salient through persuasive messaging could increase help-seeking inclinations (i.e., attitudes, expectations, and intentions) among people with depression. Study 1 indicated that people with depressive symptomatology significantly underestimated the number of people who seek help for depression. Although approximately 66% of U.S. adults with depression met with professionals for help in 2020, on average, participants believed this rate was 35%. Most associations between norm perceptions and help-seeking inclinations were nonsignificant (e.g., perceived static norms were not significantly associated with help-seeking attitudes or outcome expectations; trending norm perceptions did not significantly relate …

Unpredictable Positive Experience Response (Uper) Training In Male And Female Rats: Effects On Cognition, Emotional Resilience, And Neuroplasticity Markers, Eve M. Barringer

Honors Theses

This study investigated the effects of positive anticipation on depression-like symptoms in Long Evans male and female rats, using Unpredictable Positive Experience Response (UPER) training. Rats that received UPER training (UPER group) were exposed to cues followed by a positive reward at random times, fostering anticipation of three different positive experiences. Along with the UPER rats, there was a group of rats that received positive rewards without anticipation (ENR group) and a group that received no positive reward or anticipation (CTRL group). After 7 weeks of behavioral… training, we examined how training impacted the animal’s cognition, emotional resilience, and neurobiological …

The Relationship Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, Anna Podrasky

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) was first described as a syndrome associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, SCT may be a unique construct, independent of the presence of ADHD. Archival data from a specialty outpatient adult ADHD clinic were analyzed to further evaluate the relationship between SCT and ADHD. It was hypothesized that there would not be significant differences between ADHD and SCT on measures of anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and sleep disturbance. Second, it was hypothesized that after controlling for anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and sleep disturbance at level 1 of a hierarchical regression analysis, there would be no additive predictive relationship …

Anxiety And Depression In Older Adults Post Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Mickaela R. Reed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has investigated challenges that are created when one experiences a disaster within populations such as older adults and other vulnerable groups of people. However, there is little to no consideration given to how age in combination with trauma history are related to well-being after a disaster. Using two theories, socioemotional selectivity theory (SST, Carstensen, 2006) and the strength and vulnerability integration model (SAVI, Charles, 2010). I compared older adults post disaster vulnerabilty to depression and anxiety to that of younger adults with trauma history as a moderator. The 2,508 participants in the current study were from the Survey of …

Synthetic Neuroactive Steroids Targeting Gaba-A Receptors As A Potential Therapy For Contraceptive-Associated Mood Disorders, Alexandria A. Davis

Scripps Senior Theses

4-10% of women who use hormonal oral contraceptives (HOCs) discontinue use after experiencing symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and depression in the first 3 months of administration. Previous studies have acknowledged a relationship between HOCs and emotional dysregulation but have not identified mechanisms by which HOCs have this effect. As a result, effective treatment options for HOC-induced mood disorders are lacking. Current theories implicate combined-HOCs, particularly those containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (EE-LNG), in reducing neuroactive steroid levels. Specifically, HOC users show decreases in allopregnanolone, a positive allosteric modulator associated with neuronal inhibition and emotional regulation. The objective of this study …

Student-Athlete Mental Health: University Of Montana Case Study, Abigail M. Sherwood

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Research suggests that Division I college-student athletes experience higher levels of stress and other behavioral health issues than their non-athlete counterparts, with up to 20% of them suffering from depression (Sudano et al., 2017). Two studies on student athletes’ well-being conducted in 2020, reported that athletes continue to report higher levels of mental health concerns (Johnson, 2022). Since the fall of 2020, rates of mental exhaustion, depression, and anxiety have improved minimally with rates remaining 1.5 to two times higher than reported before the COVID-19 pandemic (Johnson, 2022). Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open in 2021 and Simone Biles …

Childhood Trauma, Stress, Gender, And Depression's Impact On Suicidal Behavior, Emily H. Mezni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young adults. Continuous prevention and intervention efforts throughout the world have been made to reduce suicide risk in this population. Two of the biggest known risk factors for suicide is childhood trauma, a traumatic event or events that occur during youth, and depression. Researching the impact childhood trauma and depression make in conjunction with other factors will help to increase knowledge of suicidal behavior. In this study, recent stress and gender will be factored with childhood trauma and depression severity to predict suicidal ideation and attempt. Recent stress is useful …

Coping With Creativity - The Relationship Between Depression/Anxiety And Creative Coping In College-Aged Students, Nelly M. Dragu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The relationship between creativity and mental illness has been established in the literature. There are multiple possible explanations for how mental illness and creativity are connected, and creativity has shown to be an effective treatment for different mental illnesses (for example, through art therapy). Despite this, there is limited research on which creative activities those with mental illnesses naturally use to cope. Information on the type of creative coping that the mentally ill naturally gravitate to and find most effective can further inform possible treatment plans and suggestions. This study aims to address gaps in the literature concerning how college-aged …

The Role Of Parental Attachment In The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Depression In Emerging Adult Males, Kerstin Gracia

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Experiencing adversity during childhood can impact mental health throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are comprised of different types of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Children who experience ACEs are more likely to display internalizing (e.g., depression) and externalizing (e.g., acting out) behavior problems in adolescence. Those with insecure attachment styles are more likely to have grown up in a disorganized, inconsistent environment and have an increased chance of experiencing ACEs. The current study examined the relationships among ACEs, depression, and parental attachment in emerging adult men, with parental attachment tested as the mediating factor. It was …

Depression In African American Males And The Mental Health Stigma, Deanna Carrington

Dissertations and Theses

Depression is a common mental health disorder in the United States. In particular, African Americans have a greater risk of depression because they are predisposed to depressive symptoms as opposed to their White counterparts (Miller and Taylor, 2011). Moreover, African Americans are 20% more likely to experience psychological distress that leads to depression compared to other racial groups. While African American cultural norms focus on resilience and independence, discussion around mental health is discouraged, which leads to underreporting and delayed treatment. For males in the African American community, they can be hesitant to seek help, let alone discuss their experiences …

The Mental Health Of Southeast Asian American Lgbtqia+ Adults, Phetsamone P. Phoummavong

Dissertations and Theses

The current study examines the prevalence of and relationship between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a sample of Southeast Asian Americans (age: M = 26.6, SD = 4.0) who self-identified as sexual and gender minorities (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual and plus [LGBTQIA+]) (n = 41). Our national online survey was co-developed with a partnering community-based organization (CBO), Mekong NYC, and was disseminated through Southeast Asian American and/or LGBTQIA+ serving CBOs, university-affiliated organizations, and relevant affinity groups.

Results indicate that participants in our sample who identified as female, …

Belonging In The Psychic Nowhere: Racial Trauma, Racial Melancholia And Related Mental Health Outcomes Amongst South Asian Immigrants In The Us, Anusha M. Kumar

Dissertations and Theses

South Asian immigrants have experienced a nuanced immigration history in the US while straddling the Black-White racial binary. Despite their growing presence, research on South Asian mental health is relatively limited and often subsumed under the broader category of "Asian Americans," which obscures unique experiences due to the model minority myth and leads to a paucity of targeted studies, particularly in the U.S. Mental health outcomes, specifically depression, self-harm and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent within this community, and are exacerbated after large-scale sociopolitical events due to increased discrimination. Limited studies examine the intersection of racism and mental health outcomes …

The Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health And Well-Being, Connor Printz

CMC Senior Theses

This paper seeks to examine the positive and negative effects of social media on the well-being and mental health of people. The emergence of social media platforms has transformed the landscape of human interaction and communication, revolutionizing the way individuals connect, share information, and engage with the world around them. With the rapidly increasing popularity of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and more, people now have unprecedented access to virtual networks, enabling instantaneous communication and global connectivity. While social media and these apps have without a doubt brought about numerous benefits, including enhanced social connectedness, access …

Prolonged Grief: The Predictive Value Of Cognitive Distortions, Depression, And Anxiety, Michael Kastelnik

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Bereavement, the emotional pain of losing a loved one, may lead to significant distress and functional impairment, which can negatively impact the relationships, work, and health of those who grieve. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions and prolonged grief, depression, and anxiety. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant and positive relationship between prolonged grief, depression, anxiety, and cognitive distortions, as measured by the Prolonged Grief Scale-Revised (PG-13-R), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD), respectively (Hypothesis 1). It was also …

Social Gender Norms And Depression In College Students, Derek Deeney

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a relationship between the conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) and depression among male and female college students at a mid-sized, four-year public institution in the Midwest. A secondary purpose was to investigate if there was a difference in depression between males and females, and if a there was a difference in conformity to social gender norms (masculine and feminine) between males and females. Understanding the trends in social norm conformity and depression can lead to changes in how faculty and staff in higher education …

Witnessing Bullying And Internalizing Symptoms: The Influence Of Peer Relationships, Matthew Geisler

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Bullying is a common problem in schools and has been associated with many different negative outcomes for students. While there has been considerable research examining students who are directly involved in bullying scenarios such as the bullies and victims themselves, less is known about the other students who witness bullying events at school. Bullying scenarios become more common at a similar time where peer relationships become more important in the daily lives of students as they begin to spend more time interacting with their peers. Positive peer relationships have been associated with positive outcomes for students and thus may serve …

Race-Based Stressors And Racial Trauma: The Moderating Role Of Parental Racial Socialization, Jessica S. Philip

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Experiences of race-based stressors are linked with worse psychological outcomes for racial/ethnic minority individuals (e.g., Ferdinand et al., 2015). The way in which parents talk to their children about race (i.e., racial/ethnic socialization; RES) may exacerbate or buffer against the strength of this link (e.g., Keum & Ahn, 2021). Therefore, the present study examined the links between race-based stressors, RES, and psychological outcomes (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, racial trauma) across multiple racial/ethnic minority groups. The present study also explored the different RES messages as potential moderators for the link between race-based stressors and outcomes, as well as differences in these …

Facilitating Thought Progression To Reduce Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial, Shai-Lee Yatziv, Paola Pedrelli, Shira Baror, Sydney Ann Decaro, Noam Shachar, Bar Sofer, Sunday Hull, Joshua Curtiss, Moshe Bar

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background:

The constant rise in the prevalence of major depressive disorder calls for new, effective, and accessible interventions that can rapidly and effectively reach a wide range of audiences. Recent developments in the digital health domain suggest that dedicated online platforms may potentially address this gap. Focusing on targeting ruminative thought, a major symptomatic hallmark of depression, in this study we hypothesized that delivering a digital health-based intervention designed to systematically facilitate thought progression would substantially alleviate depression.

Objective:

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of a novel digital intervention on the reduction of depressive symptoms. This intervention was …

Online Perceived Social Support And Its Association With Psychopathology In Rural And Urban Youth, Ellen Alexandra Knowles

Dissertations and Theses

Social support is a fundamental aspect of development throughout adolescence. It has been found to buffer against the negative impacts of stress and provide general benefits to one’s well-being. Youth today are exposed to a range of opportunities for socialization with peers, both in-person and online, including interacting with others through texting, social media, video games, and other digital means. These online interactions have begun to be investigated as accessible methods through which adolescents can connect with others and maintain healthy relationships. Furthermore, digital social networks may be most critical for youth from isolated communities, including those from rural areas. …

Predictors Of Occupational Distress Of Catholic Priests On The Eastern Seaboard Of The United States, Michael D. Kostick, Xihe Zhu, Justin A. Haegele, Pete Baker

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

With ever-increasing demands placed upon active priests in the United States, insight into protecting their mental health may help strengthen vocational resilience for individual priests. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of individual variables, workplace characteristics, and physical activity participation with occupational distress levels among Catholic priests. A 22-question survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Clergy Occupational Distress Index, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was employed to collect individual variables, workplace characteristics, physical activity participation, and occupational distress levels of Catholic priests from the Eastern seaboard of the United States. Regression analyses showed that …

College Students’ Loneliness, Feelings About Social Media, And Depressive Symptoms During Covid-19: Between And Within-Person Temporal Associations, Karen Kochel, Catherine L. Bagwell, Samara Rosen

Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies

During COVID-19, many institutions of higher education implemented health protocols that reduced college students’ in-person interactions and prompted an uptick in their social media use. Although social media has often been implicated in the development of psychosocial difficulties, we tested an alternate hypothesis – that, during the pandemic, students’ feelings about social media for interpersonal connection (i.e., FSMIC), would contribute to reductions in loneliness and depressive symptoms. To investigate temporal associations between loneliness, FSMIC, and depression, we estimated random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM), permitting the disaggregation of between- and within-person effects. Participants (N = 517 undergraduates, M_age = …